Risk management is creating and applying a system of policies and procedures designed to reduce liability exposures by applying “structured common sense.” This approach to risk management can apply to everything a health center does, from its daily operations to more elaborate matters, such as purchasing a management information system or managing medical malpractice exposures.

• The most workable approach often is to “keep it simple.”
• Risk management should be a broad-based effort and involve everyone, particularly administration, supervisory staff and the health center’s physicians.
• Responsibilities should be clearly defined and assigned. Staff should be educated about the risk management process and its application to their jobs. Effective performance should be rewarded and inadequate performance should be identified and modified or sanctioned, as appropriate
• The management team should regularly report to the health center’s Board of Directors concerning risk management issues.

With the creation of the Compliance and Risk Management Committee under the revised bylaws adopted in 2006, the Illinois Primary Health Care Association formalized and enhanced its efforts to provide the highest quality services to IPHCA members.

Below are links to various HRSA, NACHC and other third party websites that are open to the general public and which contain valuable information. Here is a link to the materials and proceedings of the Compliance and Risk Management Committee for our members only.

NACHC has also published a series of excellent booklets on different aspects of risk assessment and management that may be downloaded at no cost from http://iweb.nachc.com/Purchase/CatalogSearchResults.aspx?Option=2&Topic=Risk.